Explaining Deadbolt Requirements for Denver Rental Licenses

As one of the leading rental inspection companies in Colorado, our inspectors have conducted hundreds of rental inspections throughout Denver. Needless to say, we’ve seen a lot of different properties. And one of the most common defects we come across is an unsafe or improperly configured exterior door deadbolt lock.

This often comes as a surprise to clients who are confused as to why a perfectly functional deadbolt would fail a rental inspection. So what are the deadbolt requirements for passing a Denver Rental License Inspection? Let’s unlock the truth!

The Denver RRP – All About Safety

If you are a Denver property owner or manager, you are probably quite familiar with the Denver Residential Rental Program (or RRP) and the licensing it requires. Recall that the program was implemented as a way to ensure minimum safety standards for all Denver renters. The inspector utilizes the city’s Inspection Checklist, which is broken down into several important sections, as shown below.

Section 1 – Egress makes it a requirement for every dwelling to “have a means of egress leading to a safe and open space at ground level.” This is where the deadbolt discussion comes into play.

Check out this article for a full breakdown of the Inspection Checklist.

Why Do Deadbolt Requirements Matter?

There is a large number of older homes in Denver with exterior doors or security doors with deadbolt locks that are keyed on the inside (i.e. you need a key to lock/unlock them from the inside). This may seem like a perfectly viable means to exit the property. However, this will always be flagged as an inspection fail.

Incorrect deadbolt configuration – will fail Denver rental inspection

We know the key to that deadbolt lock is likely present and accounted for. In fact, some tenants even leave the key in the deadbolt for convenience. So you might be thinking – why is this an issue?

You need to consider the worst case scenario. What would happen in an emergency if the tenant needs to exit, and the key is somehow missing? All of a sudden you have a serious safety hazard that could be life threatening. And for that reason, these types of deadbolts are non-compliant items.

Correct deadbolt configuration

Deadbolt Requirements to Pass a Rental Inspection

In the case that you do have a keyed-on-the-inside deadbolt lock, our inspectors will require it to be switched out to a hand turn lock (like the one shown above). If the defective door in question is an outer security door, you can also opt to remove the lock all together (variations shown below).

You may notice that, if you reference the Inspection Checklist Guidebook, it does not explicitly mention deadbolt requirements. However, section 1.1 C states the following:

C. Doors, windows, corridors, stairways, fire escapes, and passageways, serving as ordinary or emergency exit routes shall be free of stored, discarded, or extraneous material, and in no case shall these routes be obstructed or locked to persons within the dwelling.

This excerpt essentially states that any feature obstructing an individual from unlocking and exiting the premise is an inspection fail. And according to the city, that includes keyed-on-the-inside deadbolts. We even personally verified this with city officials. So make sure to keep your property safe and update those deadbolts!

We hope this article has cleared things up with regards to deadbolt requirements. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us through our Ask Your Inspector program. Or you can reach out directly to the city of Denver at [email protected].

Book Your Rental Inspection with Team Scott!

If you own or manage properties in Denver or Boulder, and are in need of a rental license inspection, we hope that you will consider Scott Home Services. Visit us online to learn more our services or contact us to book your inspection today!